City Kitty's Blog Spot

Two CEO's, FBI, Homeland Security and Choachella "security" pat themselves on back, when they should be apologizing!

2018-04-15T12:08:00.001-07:00

Only weeks after the Vegas Shooting, I began a journey to save events from more tragedies! I wanted to make events safer again. I've planned special events (races, fireworks, concerts, art fest, food fest, cultural events, etc) for over 17 years and love watching families enjoy them! But I knew events would never be the same! I began writing those who I thought might be able to make significant changes to ALL events, that were simple - using technology we already had and methods that were feasible to implement. Having planned large scale events I knew that security measures that some think are "necessary" are not always practical or logistically possible depending on the venue. So I carefully complied ideas I knew would help based on my passed experiences and compiled them into a comprehensive plan. Mentioning that protocols from post 9-11 are not being used anymore (thanks to our "one-second" society!) but they weren't event used at the Boston Marathon, and since Boston, what has been done? We missed an opportunity between the Boston Marathon and Vegas to train again, or train those who are new to event planning and to brain storm other security measures using the new technology that's available. To become vigilant and they didn't! Not only was my email seemingly ignored by those I contacted, but I was never contacted and then an article came out on 4/14/18 with my exact information, almost verbatim in order of how I laid out the plans. Sure enough its FBI, LEO's, Homeland Security and a couple CEO's taking credit. And oddly enough not one female is mentioned in the planning, coordinating or implementing of these ideas and new technology. I am disappointed on so many levels. While I am happy and thanking God these measures can be put in place to save lives - as they should have been years ago - I am disappointed I was not included and not able to help further. I've highlighted the parts directly taken from this email.

Not only in the IFEA Article that was released do they steal directly from my information, but they pat themselves on the back. I think one of the main reasons my emails were overlooked, was because I took a very humbling approach. I literally point out things that we should be doing, and had they be done in Vegas, it could of saved lives!! They should not be patting themselves on the back - but apologizing and kicking themselves in the ass!!

So, let me apologize in advance for the extra long entry today. This is my process since the Vegas Shooting my free time has been dedicated to not only researching - reading articles, social media, watching news or 20/20 documentary on the shooting, the lame excuse for an interview that Ellen did, interviewing witnesses, employees and more. In the moments following the shooting I had immediate ideas and concerns for what the Vegas event planner DID NOT DO and what we as event planners are not doing that could have saved lives. I immediately took notes, and began writing. I first sent this email (below) on 10/11/17 to Will at Hello Endless Entertainment a local A/V Event company, then on 10/20/17 to IFEA (International Festival and Events Association), as well as I followed up because I didn't hear anything on 10/30/17. After calling and leaving messages for two other IFEA employees, I finally went after a larger event security company and emailed Peter Ashwin of ERMS Global. He did respond but said he was busy and would get back to me. But did not. Honestly, it was right before the holidays and I figured it might take a while. However, I was not expecting this.

My Email in its entirety:

12/01/2017

Dear Mr. Peter Ashwin,

I hope your well!! I was a long time member of IFEA in the AZ chapter and still attend APRA conferences (NRPA: national state, local parks and recreation), my name is Kathy Worrell. I've planned special events for over 18 years, in Mesa and Fountain hills, as well as on volunteer committees for Phoenix Fabulous forth, the Fiesta bowl and sat on the Superbowl Volunteer Sub Committee, etc. Sorry, the email is so long, I promise there are some great points and opportunity in here regarding the future of event security and technology!!

I wanted to touch base because of the Vegas shooting and an epiphany I had; regarding special events, technology and security.

I realize that IFEA has put out some safety and security training. I'm not concerned that training isn't available. My concern is - not everyone is taking it - it's not mandatory or required to have an event or become an event planner. The Security or safety training received is not always comprehensive or inclusive of different venues/events. It's also not standardized across both the public and private sectors. It's not getting to local municipalities, smaller event planners. So that's part of my solution here.

I was born in Vegas and have family there, luckily none were at the concert. But my husband is a Mesa PD Officer and 3 of his off duty friends were in attendance. One was grazed in the face by a bullet. He was initially treated and released in Vegas and returned to AZ on that Monday. He later found out the person hit by the remaining bullet shrapnel had died. I've had a chance to talk to the Mesa PD Active Shooter trainer, and some Vegas PD staff that worked the aftermath in the department. And have made additions to my initial reaction.

1) I was concerned that along with elements out of the control of the event planners (Live Nation?); that not enough security was done, and with the technology available today, it was not used efficiently enough to save or protect its attendees. (Just from the event planners scoop of resources, not including PD - I'll address that later. Just rent-a-security, vendors, rental equipment and staffing)

My instant thoughts were, as I watched the singer run off stage was there is a HUGE screen and open mic, not being utilized!!

So:

A) Why wasn't a general Emergency message system in place to alert the attendees? "EMERGENCY IN PROGRESS, PLEASE EXIT EVENT". Via text message, or the HUGE screen or over the mic? The shooting lasted for 17 mins and during that time most people were confused, in denial and not aware of the gravity of the situation. We know this technology already exist, yet there was a failure to plan for it's use. Had it been used, people could have began to take cover, exit the event or clasp the severity of what was happening and act accordingly.

B) Cameras should not just be used to face the stage, but used to face the crowd and points of interest.

B)1: maybe the use of body cameras is in order at events, not just for PD? But gate security and on site staff, etc. What vendors do we see being able to provide these resources?

C) Most of the time we place our security people (bodies) at gates, behind stages, info booths - regardless they are all at "ground level", not elevated positions OR rarely from a place "off site" to be able to be proactive, rather amongst the crowd who's "reacting" and not able to be "proactive". I'm thinking a van or conference room off site, with video and audio feeds.

D) Paper or wafer thin chips are already used in racing bibs, to track and time racers. Those hold the information of the runners. What if we placed them in event wrist bands? You enter the venue, you scan your licence/ID (like the devices we use for drinking (21 and older) events), you get an arm band. The info is associated with that band. And the same "timing" devices are used, when you leave, return or enter a different zone by walking over the device it logs it. This could of greatly helped in the aftermath of ID'ing people, counting people, as well as a comprehensive look at where or how people escaped. It also would have given us an accurate number of how many people were there for the actual shooting event. Many people had left because it was late, and for all we know some have never come forward. For future reference this information is relevant in planning future events, even if it's not used in a tragedy like Vegas.

2) All these points are were I thought of IFEA and one of it's vendors, or a company being able to lead the way in event security and technology efficiency. I think this is definitely the way of the future of events. My initial thought was to secure events and protect the attendees, but I also think as I've outlined these products there is a business opportunity here as well. The research, testing and distribution of it. Implementing it and setting new standards.

For instance, a company can offer body cams, cameras for security reasons, drones for rent (Not just for taking great crowd pics), emergency systems, "smart wrist bands" AND provide or attend training in how and why they are important. I was thinking of eventually adding an annual or bi-annual "Event Security/Safety Submit". Not an optional "class" slipped into a week of conference. Where we include Homeland, FEMA, local PD, EMT and in my case, survivors and eye witnesses. But it should be mandatory. There should be, or we should discuss "certification of safety" for planners or for events. Where they submit and practice overall event safety in an on going, all inclusive practice.

Let me know if you'd like to discuss this further.

480-703-6208 or this email

While I know IFEA and or ERMS is capable with this information, I'm hoping if you see value in this and move forward, you'll consider taking me with you. I'd love to be a part of security accounts, coordinating products, planning the training or helping advise and/or test equipment. I'll even volunteer for right now. As I mentioned before my main concern is protecting American people's lives and making special events safer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, again sorry so long but my combined event experience, along with my personal interest in this issue, just exploded in this comprehensive thought process. Below: More on helping events become more secure. But I cover training that was given 16 years ago and wasn't implemented in either the Boston marathon or the Vegas shooting.

Sincerely,

Kathy Worrell

If you have time: my additional thoughts on why event planners (at a local govt level at least. Maybe you can provide insight in what the private sector learns) will need more security from their vendors. And the problem with the disconnect from PD, and then the disconnect from federal government.

After 9-11, Homeland security contacted me (at city of Mesa) 6 months later (that was probably fast back then) and requested information on vendors, sponsors, vehicles, maps and staff for the next 3 major events...as well as provided a training. But that was it, after Dec of 2002 they never contacted us again. I thought even though we had adopted a couple new security measures, that surely we'd need continuing training? (One measure we adopted was manned "break away" fencing in the large gaps between exits, so our crowd wasn't trapped or trampling each other, or if exits were blocked, emergency services could get in. And the security person manning it was supposed to cut open the gate and yell for people to go that way. Yet, it was clearly not a technique used in Boston or Vegas, some 16 years later?) What happened... I'm surprised there is not more required training or security certifications out there for event planners! I'm surprised how much is just left to local PD's and Fire Departments who oversee the event permits. They sometimes make decisions on placement and people without contacting the event planners. Mostly, these people show up the day of, and are not privy to the event details. Ironically, they may receive ongoing training but it's rarely shared with the govt event planners or rec departments, and I'm not sure what is required of the private sector. Furthermore, any non-profit, organization, church or school can apply for a special event permit. Regardless of event experience or training.

This in my opinion has created the large disconnect, and the gap in communication. As well as I think created a false sense of security at events, as attendees, as planners. We event planners think the PD know what their doing, and we focus on bigger better events; they don't think like event planners and we don't think like PD.

Anyway, I've had or taken additional training by Homeland/FEMA (NSSE) and the Active Shooter training.

Then the Boston marathon happened, and honesty, we heard nothing from the govt, even as a govt entity. It's just concerning, that seemingly nothing changed between the Boston Marathon and the Vegas shooting!! Could a Safety Submit of all the brains together prevent or lessen the next attack? There seemed to be a missed opportunity there.

I think setting higher industry standards, providing additional resources for our member's - since our members are BOTH private and public sectors, is going to be very valuable!! I don't see the government trying anything like this. I think within their own organizations; FBI, PD's, etc, they think they can tackle it with increased presence and fire power. But lack of the willingness to approach event planners, or they aren't connecting the dots (for a lack of a better term). When we have the opportunity here to provide an effective educational opportunity here, an industry first, combining organization's knowledge. A platform for prevention.

Anyway, thanks again Mr. Ashwin! Please let know if you need any additional information, or want to talk!

#choachella #eventsecurity #fbi #vegasshooting #VegasStrong #Sayyoursorry #drones #toolittletoolate

This was the email sent out 4-14-18: Supposedly complied by

"Coachella using drones, security plans enacted after 9/11 to prevent another Las Vegas-type incident"

Drones and more armed security will be employed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this month to help to prevent the kind of horrific attack that left 58 people dead at a Las Vegas music festival in in October.

Goldenvoice president and CEO Paul Tollett says a planned increase in armed security is proportionate with the festival’s growth and changes in society.

“It’s just a part of safety,” he said in an interview last month on the music festival grounds. “There are more people at the show, so, it’s a higher profile.”

Roughly 250,000 people are expected at the festival April 13-15 and April 20-22 at two Indio polo clubs, and Indio police say they can assure those fans, and their parents, that a nationwide team of law enforcement and security personnel are planning for every contingency learned from previous catastrophes.

“Our number one priority is public safety,” said public information officer Sgt. Dan Marshall. “We want people to know that they’re safe. We want people to know that we are well planned.”

Drones have been called a “radical” new security implementation. Marshall said their use is an experiment. Goldenvoice has contracted with a licensed, certified drone service to be put at the disposal of the Indio police. The department will use it to view traffic problems and “issues that pop up." But those issues are undetermined.

“We don’t know if this is the type of event that lends itself to (drones),” said Marshall. “We have to follow all rules. We can’t over-fly cars, we can’t over-fly crowds, we can’t do any of that stuff unless we deem that it’s a public safety issue. Then we could make that happen.

“(But,) let’s say we’re getting reports that there’s a lot of traffic at an intersection and the drone goes to look at that intersection. It can’t fly down the middle of the street. It has to stay in a route where it’s not over-flying homes or people or anything like that.

“We’re really this year going to see what their use is at this type of event.”

Marshall, like Tollett, declined to reveal details of the Coachella security plan. But, Marshall said most health and security measures are more subtle than drones and armed guards.

The plan to move the large, electronic music-filled Sahara tent west, away from the mid-size Mojave and Gobi tents, is significant, Marshall said, because it will lighten human traffic patterns. Security people look at whether a pass-through area is too narrow, causing congestion that increases stress, or too broad, which could cause the festival to lose space on another congested field at the Empire and Eldorado polo clubs.

Planners and security people, he said, have conversations as mundane as, “Man, I’m going to taper this cone pattern and make it 20 feet longer and that’s going to alleviate traffic just that much more!”

Security planning has been a priority since the festival’s launch in 1999, Tollett said. But more entities are now involved in the planning.

Following the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music festival in Las Vegas, plus mass killings in the past two years at nightclubs in Miami and Manchester, England, and the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, France, more than 1,000 live event producers gathered for an industry conference at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, where a man had fired on Route 91 festival-goers from the 32nd floor just two months earlier.

Police, fire, federal Homeland Security officials, private security officials and even the head of customer safety for the Las Vegas Conventions and Visitors Authority spoke at the XLIVE conference on issues ranging from training to detect improvised explosive devices to a federal program that encourages promoters to share proprietary information with security partners by protecting them from civil liability and Freedom of Information Act requests.

The overriding message of a seminar and workshop on safety and security was, “The importance of planning can’t be overstated.”

Ashour Ebrahim, director of health and safety for AEG Presents, Goldenvoice’s partner in Coachella and many other music festivals across the country, said in an interview at the XLIVE conference he works with multiple law enforcement and security officials to create unique security plans for each festival.

“Coachella is a totally different environment and experience than a smaller venue we would have in, for example, Oklahoma (home of Rocklahoma), which is a heavy metal,” he said. “So, it can’t be one size fits all. Every festival, we look at their security plans and, if there’s a best practice, we adopt it.

“It takes all security professionals to work together with federal, state and local partners, private sector security companies. How are we going to try to prevent these (mass shooting) events from happening? That takes a lot of proper planning in order to see what the needs are.”

Some of the more visible measures the AEG and Goldenvoice security teams have implemented are walking metal detectors, or magnetometers, which measure changes in the magnetic field, and dog patrols.

“If you’ve been to Coachella, you see the police presence in trying to guide the traffic,” said Ebrahim, a former FBI official who had his own security firm before joining AEG. “If they’re standing in our queues, they see our security personnel. We have dog patrols, and those are tangible things that people can actually see. Granted, some people may feel, why do I have to have my bags searched? Well, it’s exactly for that reason. It’s a tangible approach. We’re not trying to inconvenience you, we’re trying to protect everyone else, including yourself.”

The way Coachella officials respond to emergency incidents is determined by a federal protocol for private and public sector agencies established after 9/11. President George W. Bush issued a Homeland Security Presidential Directive to establish a National Incident Management System, which led to the creation of a State Emergency Management System, known collectively NIMS SEMS.

In layman’s language, it ensures that police can talk to fire personnel, fire can talk to the ambulance operators, and the ambulances can talk to the police.

“When you get at that level of the person who’s actually trying to orchestrate and bring some calm and some order to a chaotic situation,” said Marshall, “communication among the first responders is paramount. That lesson was learned at 9/11, where even different fire departments could not talk to each other.”

Goldenvoice takes that communication protocol to another level: enabling first responders to communicate with their private security personnel.

“Something that makes this concert so amazing is that the promoter, Goldenvoice, has taken the time to invest that training to their staff,” said Marshall. “Law enforcement trains all their sworn officers in the basics of NIMS SEMS. As you move up in rank and positions of responsibility, you’re trained deeper in the operations of NIMS and SEMS, to where you are a director of a department or a commander.

“We operate under that purview with the first responders – police, fire, and AMR (American Medical Response). So, they’re part of the incident command. You have those three incident commanders in the same room and they all know how it’s supposed to run. You get that communication so you can get the resources you need to help people (and) contain the situation when you have an incident.

“Goldenvoice has done an amazing job, probably like no other company I’ve ever heard of, to train their people in this incident command system, to the point that I know when I look over to this security director, he understands that language because he has been through the same training as I have. To have first responders and civilians on the same page – in how the incident is going to be managed – that is remarkable. That is how things function and that’s why this festival has been so successful.”

The type of incident determines whether law enforcement, fire or AMR should be the main incident commander under the NIMS SEMS protocol. But, until a law has been broken, the Goldenvoice security team is in charge of protection. The AEG team works in concert with them.

“Law enforcement is there to help us, support us," Ebrahim said. "God forbids something happens, that’s when law enforcement will take over and we, as a private sector entity, will follow their instructions. Whether they’re state and local cops or whether the FBI comes in if it’s an act of terrorism, then we simply do whatever they tell us. If there’s nothing going on, we’re just running a show. They’re sitting in our command posts. If they see something they don’t like, they tell us, ‘Hey, can you put more guards over here?’ If we see something we don’t like, we tell them, ‘Hey, can you send a couple uniformed personnel to deal with this?’ It’s a partnership.”

The determination of whether an incident is an act of terrorism generally occurs after the incident has occurred, Marshall said. Then local law enforcement assists the FBI and Homeland Security. Before that, they're there to assist the Indio Police Department.

Marshall said public safety is their No. 1 priority, but Ebrahim said the private sector security doesn’t want the fans to have to be aware of that.

“People need to know we’re doing everything possible to make them safe,” he said. “So, as soon as they walk into any of our festivals, the only thing they want to consider is, ‘Where am I eating? Which act am I seeing?’ We want them to have a heck of a time and go back (on) social media, ‘Best time ever. I’m going to be going to Coachella for the next 20 years.’ That’s what I worry about. The fan experience. I don’t want them to think about security.”

The Indio Police is also using social media as a community tool. It was one of 15 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. selected to participate in a 21st Century Policing Initiative created by President Obama. Marshall was named head of the Indio Police Social Media Team last fall. The Indio Police now has more than 1,000 Twitter followers and 1,000 Instagram followers, and it reaches 8,000 households via Nextdoor.com.

The six pillars of the 21st century police initiative are transparency, legitimacy, social media, technology, officer safety and wellness. Police officers began carrying tourniquets two months ago to assist with wellness and that has already helped an officer save a life after an automobile accident.

Ebrahim said spending money on expensive technology isn’t always as important as good customer relations.

“We hire private security vendors and they do the vetting and validation of their guards, and they have to understand, we don’t want a bouncer mentality,” he said. “This is a guest experience and we as security, health and safety are all about that guest experience. We’d much rather say, ‘How can we help you?’ than ‘Why are you doing X, Y and Z?’ A smile on their face goes a long way. For us, our guest experience is our number one priority because we want them coming back and having a good time."

Marshall said that's not inconsistent with 21st century policing.

“It’s all about legitimacy,” he said. “If the people you’re serving don’t believe you have a legitimate purpose to police them, that’s where you get a lot of these communities that are at odds with the police.”

Tollett said planning is the number one thing a festival promoter can do to prevent mass violence.

“Having a plan for anticipation of troubles,” he said. “It’s just an ongoing, 365-day thing for us. Safety.”

But he also believes in using technology to assist law enforcement. Festival-goers must wear wristbands that contain chips that help count the number of festival-goers and identify when they come in and out of different parts of the fields.

“Because of the wristband thing, we have a system,” said Tollett. “We want to know who’s here. Everyone’s got documentation on a wristband. So, we know when they come in.”

Breaking My Back to be Normal - 2007 to 2018

2018-04-03T22:38:00.001-07:00

September and October, 2014

In 2004, I started seeing a chiropractor for back pain. I had a very physical job that required lifting, moving, stacking, and setting up large objects – stage equipment, tables, sand bags, trailers, fencing, tents, signs, chairs, etc. It also required lots of endurance such as working 16 to 19 hour days on occasion, while walking, standing and lifting all day during an event. Then there were other days where I sat for close to 8 to 10 hours at a desk. Although, I don’t remember, I was told I said to my Chiropractor on one of my visits that “I heard a ‘pop’ and felt pain” while at work, apparently pulling equipment out. I would go on to see the chiropractor as needed, I continued to work and workout regularly, with the occasional “flare up” and then I would rest. I would go through the “normal routine” of my recovery – Ice, rest, soak in a bath, go to chiropractor, use IcyHot patches and creams, meds, etc. This went on till September of 2007. I was still working full time, had been training for an upcoming 5K, had some aches and was notably “taking it easy”. I was at work attending a casual meeting when I decided to sit on the floor, a co-worker offered her heating pack and I laid back on it. When the meeting concluded, I could not get off the floor. I could not figure out what was wrong, but there was no angle, position or comfortable way to get up without excruciating pain. It was pain in my left leg that rendered it almost useless, I could not use, put weight on it or bend it. When they did get me up, I could not walk. Co-workers got me a walker to use from the center and I used that to get to a car. They took me to a chiropractor and he ordered imaging, and referred me to a doctor that could administer medication. I remember my husband coming to pick me up, and feeling so helpless.

The imaging would show a herniated disk at the L4/L5 and I was referred to a surgeon. Refusing to have surgery they offered an epidural, followed by physical therapy and rest. Luckily it worked. I felt better, had a baby in 2009 and would not have any issues till Jan 2012. I was standing in the bathroom at my mom's house doing my hair to go out. I started to feel a throbbing pain and intense pressure in my calf of my left leg. At first since it felt like a bad cramp, I tried to "stretch" it out by stepping back but that did not help or feel good, so I stopped, immediately took medications and then laid down with my legs up. It only continued to increase. I closed my eyes in pain at one point and didn't open them till I got to the hospital. I honestly didn't register that it was my back, it was ALL leg, I thought it was aneurysm in my calf. I thought at one point, from the feeling of pressure that my leg was going to explode. I couldn't walk, I told my husband to call 911. I was then taken by ambulance to the hospital. I remember asking the EMT's if I would walk again or be able to use that leg. I am sure they were confused but even after the medication I took (a pain and muscle relaxer) and the medication they gave me, I still did not feel any relief. At the hospital I remember asking for an ice pack for my leg because it still hurt and felt swollen. After a review of my medical history and some imaging, they told me it was coming from my back, it was still hard to believe.

I returned to to my surgical doctors had more imaging done and tried the epidural again. This time there was a very brief relief, so I was given 2 more epidurals - when allowed (timing) and given the max amount during an 18 month period. I was also given narcotic medications, steroids, pain patches, physical therapy and exercises to do. When that did not work over the next year, I took more imagining (below) and decided I would have to consider surgery.

My image from 2014.

So, I had a disectomy in Feb. 2014 to remove that large herniation at the L4/L5. I planned on three weeks to six week off and only took 2 ½ with going back to work part time for a week and a ½. I remember it being a lot more painful than I thought it would be for a whole lot longer than I was told it would. The next day, initially I felt better. Then the next day I felt a little worse and day four was worse than day before. I saw the doctor, he told me I had a major injury and my body would need time to recuperate and heal. That the fatigue I felt was normal and that some people take longer than others. I thought, I am not “some people” or “other people”. I am usually the exception. I recuperate quickly, I do well in surgery, I don’t get infections, I don’t have complications, I am a very positive person who wants to be normal and healthy. This was making me feel out of control, a little helpless and less optimistic. When I did return to work, it was difficult to sit for long periods, hence the half days. After 4 hours the pain while sitting at a desk; was making me irritable and I could not wait to get home to take some medication and lay down on some ice. Even the 45 min drive home had me squirming in pain as I tried in vain to change positions. I would literally open the door to the car before the keys came out, trying to get out. Then by the second week, I felt a different kind of pain, a throbbing, intense swelling that was preventing me from sitting or sleeping very well. I went back to the doctor thinking it had re-herniated the disk. The doctor confirmed it was not herniated but that I had a swollen tailbone from the surgery.

This is healing scar from the surgery, approximately 4 days later.

This is from my journal:

"To this day, in September 10, 2014, and seven months later, I still don’t feel completely better. I have not and don’t feel I can return to my normal activates. Even though the doctor suggested going back to “normal activities”, I can’t. I don’t have the strength. I still very weak and “injured” somehow. I have not attempted to go back to working out, running, or even walking the dogs. Obviously, I was better than the day I had excruciating pain and couldn't get off the floor, but I was defiantly not all better. Not the way I had expected and not the way the doctors, websites and brochures promised. I am not only physically exhausted from aches and pains, from feeling limited but I am mentally exhausted and emotional from frustration."

Then just a couple weeks later in November 2014, less than a year later, as we were moving houses my L4/L5 herniated again. Again it was not an injury per se, not a specific incident but a gradual and consistently growing pain that came on and I just knew. I returned the doctor and after imaging confirmed a herniation, their suggestion was to do the surgery (a discsectomy) again. He said the imaging showed it not only herniated but it was worse than the first time. It protruded out further as well as out to each side, causing significant narrowing of the spinal canal as pressure on surrounding on nerves. His reasoning for another discsectomy was my young age and the “three strikes and your out” (meaning if it herniates 3 times, THEN he would suggest a different more invasive and dramatic surgery called a disc removal). I got a second opinion and that doctor agreed with my original surgeon, so I stayed with my doctor and scheduled another surgery. My second surgery was done in Dec of 2015.

Going to the doctor, the chiropractor and the physical therapy almost became a part time job. It felt like all my spare time was going to scheduling and attending doctor appointments. Then down time was spent resting if I could. I eventually stopped working because sitting for 6 to 8 hours was not helping and caused more pain. As well I was unable to lift, push or pull the "min required 50lbs +" on occasion.

Here are the photos from the second surgery. Basically Day 1, 2 and 3. It seemed to be a little more irritated this time. My skin had an allergic reaction to the adhesive they used. You can see in the 3rd photo there are actually welts where the "tape" was. The skin bubbled, swelled and was red until I removed it. I bought different kinds the store to put back on it and "secure" it. But in the following pictures from days 7, 12 and 14; you can see the skin was still bubbling and pealing from irritation. At that time I was able to take all adhesive off of the incision and it began to heal properly.

1/19/16 Journal:

"Sometimes I am surprised by my physical limitations. I clearly haven’t set any in my mind yet, because I think I’m going to get something done or I begin a project and I am not able to finish. I defiantly set out with the intentions of completely a lot and then, I’m disappointed when I literally have to lie down for relief or from exhaustion. And not exhausted from exerting myself, but exhausted from pain. I simply "live with it" most of the time and only take stronger medications when I literally can't stand it anymore. For instance today, I thought I would unload the dishwasher and load it again. As I got towards the middle of unloading, I realize there is significant reaching and bending involved, but I started to feel pain and stiffness in my lower back. I remember being able to dance on a dance floor for hours at a time, bending, twisting, shimmying, jumping and not feel it till the alarm went off the next morning. I feel defeated when I take my kids to the zoo and walk until I can't anymore, then feel bad that we have to leave abruptly. I used to be able to easily go to the zoo and push a stroller or stand for hours at events, and now I can barely do rigorous house work."

I am glad I keep a journal because like more things, we forget small details or over time the details fade or lessen. Or in this case how much time has gone by. In my mind sometimes, my back injury seems "new", and others it seems like I have always had it. But then when I look back through journals and look at dates and how I was feeling, I see that it hasn't been that long - or in the later case, I realize it's been going on for years!

So the journey continues. Almost years later, while I was able to still complete most tasks, I briefly returned to running and exercise, I still had complications or "flare ups" that are debilitating. I did get pregnant again in 2017 and pregnancy - this time was increasingly difficult on my back. Unlike the first two, I had really bad pregnancy sciatic, trouble sleeping, leg pain, varicose veins, back pain and back labor. Different from my on going back pain, this was very much due to weight and the baby. I tried very hard and did really well, not to gain too much - only 17 lbs, but it was still very difficult. The last two months were the worst. I honestly thought I was going to have to have back surgery again. I wasn't sleeping at all, I couldn't bend over, get out of the tub, get dressed, walk very far or get any relief. But luckily, the pain went away after I gave birth. I had another natural birth and there were no complications because of my back. I lost my baby weight almost right away, and all of the 17lbs by 4 weeks. It has now been months and I am still doing OK. I can sleep at night, the varicose veins have almost gone away. There are still times I feel some weakness or "strains" but I no longer think I will need another surgery any time soon! Fingers crossed!!

Cruise Vacation with a 2 year old - First cruise for baby!

2018-04-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

Cruises with a two year old!
This is helpful information, photos and tips about our successful and fun cruise with our 2 year old daughter for the first time. Including costs, things we'd do differently and what to pack and what was worth the money. It should be noted that we have cruised numerous times in the past and were really familiar with the cruise line, room accommodations and on board amenities. It was our first cruise on this particular ship and our first cruise with a small child. Which if you're a young couple without kids, you rarely pay attention to what's available for kids until you have them. So for me, I felt I needed to research the trip as if I was new to cruising! I searched the cruises website for activities for kids, ages, costs, availability, procedures and policies regarding boarding, eating, participation in activities, poolside policy, luggage, storage, and more. But I found it was not much help, I was still filled with anxiety about either missing out on something, not being prepared and/or not being able to enjoy myself because something was going to go wrong or was difficult.

This is us getting to our room! We traveled with other family too.

However, with this article, I hope to answer and address all the concerns of new traveling parents. I hope it will set your mind at ease that it is possible and really fun! Cruising can be overwhelming for anyone, especially newcomers but our cruise went much better than expected and we've gone again.
We choose Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) because we are members of the loyalty rewards program. Note: that with your child's (or spouse) first cruise, that person will automatically be given YOUR highest membership level! A huge benefit!! And RCCL also has the "DreamWorks" experience on board for children, which includes meeting the characters, photos with characters, DreamWorks movies played in the rooms, in the theater and up on deck at the outdoor amphitheater. Character themed breakfast, live entertainment, parades, merchandise and activities in the kids programs.

Us at the character breakfast with Alex the Lion from Madagascar.

RCCL also has a contract with or a partnership with Fisher Price. This meant they had a plethora of Fisher Price toys, activities and programs; such as coloring pages, a Fisher Price "Birthday Party", crafts all during the "Adventure Ocean Youth Programs" and a small child activity room that was full of toys! I felt RCCL exceeded our expectations and meet our needs at every level. They made us feel more comfortable regarding safety than I ever imagined and we all enjoyed ourselves so much, I had no regrets about traveling with a small child!

The room with a million toys!!

RCCL offers a range of age separated and appropriate programs:
But before I go into detail here are some bullet points of the best kid and parent friendly accommodations.
- A very clear schedule of events/activities for both adults and children delivered to your room the night before.
- Babysitting options for almost all hours of the day, for almost all ages and during the ships dock time. So you can go on excursions and safely leave your child on board.
- For parents of children under 3, you are given a special Satellite phone for staying in contact with the ship and vice versa. More charges apply for babysitting but they are reasonable.
- For older children the programs, activities and events increase and are more interesting. My daughter made slime, a chefs hat, a pillowcase, a pirates outfit...they have a range of themes for each day and rooms for activities such as an art room, a science lab, a kitchen and more! They even went on "field trips" around the ship to the carousel, the doughnut shop, the cupcake shop, the bridge to see the captain and some crew, and visited with some of the entertainment behind the scenes. I realize these activities will vary per ship.

On the carousal. Tip: In order to get dressed in a timely manner for dinner, I often bribed her with going on the carousal before dinner. It was right up stairs from us, on the way to dinner. If you can plan where you stay on the ship to be closest to the dinning room and an elevator. It makes for easy access and less distractions. Long halls can be a hassle if you have to wait on or carry a young child!! Plus kids LOVE elevators, it was also a trick I used to get her to move along.

- Signage that is easy to read, clear and helpful resources for all activities, on board places (restaurants, pools, children's center, events and excursions), including wait times, busyness and hours of operations.
- FREE on board: Carousel, 3D movie theater, doughnut shop, a LARGE splash pad/kiddie pool, a soft serve ice cream machine at the pool, kid food at every meal and in every restaurant, kid slide and play place at amphitheater, large Fisher Price padded play room, DreamWorks character encounters, such as a character breakfast, a character parade and shows staring the characters.

The kiddie splash pad and pool.

-FREE in room: bag of Fisher Price toys which you can switch out every day, movies and shows on the TV, fridge for storing kids food and drinks, crib if needed.
-Diaper genies, baby wipes and changing tables in all the public restrooms

Playing at the beach, on excursion with some of the toys we got from RCCL.

TIPS:
1) You can bring your own case of bottled water with you and store it in your room if you have a medical condition, which includes small children (formula, etc)
2) You can ask your room stewards to clear items from your mini fridge to make room for your items (we'd store our water bottles, fresh fruit and milk cartons we took from breakfast)
3) You can also ask the steward to store large items that might take up room in your stateroom. I.e. carseat or strollers (varies per ship)
4) If at least one person takes a hot shower before bed, it will leave the room with a bit of moisture in the air which helps with the kids (and sometimes adults) stuffiness! I make sure it's on long enough to steam up the mirrors.

5) Look online such as Pintrest or on Facebook for packing and cruise tips. i.e. taking and hanging a shoe organizer for shoes, toiletries, and other items for easy access and keep them visible. Sometimes small baby shoes are hard to keep track of in a tiny room!

6) We always take a white noise machine - or these days we loaded a white noise app on our iPad for baby's nap and sleep time to drown out the ships noises, as well as our noises from sleeping in the same room.

7) Except for a couple favorite toys, or something to keep the kids busy on the plane trip or while waiting to board, there is NO reason to over pack on toys!! I always like to have one new toy that I buy and give to them on the plane but there were so many toys to play with between what was provided, what was on the ship, and so many activities, plus the pool, kept her plenty BUSY!! These days a rented movie or new app could keep the little just as busy!

This is her at diner. Although we did bring some easy kid food and snacks, and a couple sippy cups from on the go - we needed very little. She got milk, chocolate milk or juice at dinner. And ordered fruit cups, chicken nuggets or speghetti and ice cream at dinner. Although she did eat and try other things

When on a cruise, even before kids...it was always my favorite time to get in family pictures! Your dressed up, having fun and there are so many opportunities, you'll have plenty of photos to pick from.

She enjoyed the characters but also liked "dressing up" with daddy and mommy! It took a lot of planning but I planned out in advance our themes. You don't have to do that, because you might only be interested in one family photo or formal. But I wasn't sure how many would turn out. In this case. I loved them all and it worked out. We had a Black tie night, a Purple night, an ASU sports causal night, Orange tropical night and a Grey/White casual night. We also pack outfits for boarding day. They take this great Boarding picture with your ship and its name and the date on it. I love making that the first picture in our scrapbook. We usually wear nautical colors, like strips and R/W/B - But make it your own and have fun!

An open letter to MGM Resorts and M-Life

2017-10-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

An open letter to MGM Resort (a.k.a M-Life) and Mandalay Bay, Vegas, NV:

Dear MGM Resorts, Mandalay Bay and M-Life,

I'd like to express my concern over the gross negligence on Mandalay Bay's part in the Vegas shooting.

Like most people I find most of the details of last week's attack disturbing, saddening, confusing and alarming. Especially those surrounding the Mandalay Bay resort itself. I am not suggesting they could have seen this attack coming. Probably not. But could they have prevented it? I am deeply concerned at the security, or lack thereof, in place at Mandalay Bay. It is clearly not sufficient or effective; and therefore regardless of knowledge of such an attack, they lack the competency to have efficiently death with the possibility of many red flags or alarms that would have alerted them to such security issues.

My legitimate questions are:

1) Why do you have fire alarms that can be disabled by guests without notice?

2) Why do you have windows that get broken out and don't have locators on them, and/or alarms that sound, separate from fire alarms?

3) Why don’t you have building or roof motion detectors to alert security to falling objects, or motion on the roof below or along the sides of your building?

Just the first two small items ALONE could have prevented or shortened the attack significantly. It could have saved lives!! In this day and age, with technology that is available, I don't know how Mandalay Bay could be so neglectful in their updating or keeping up of security and safety measures. Those windows are not just shatter proof to prevent storm damage; I know it's to prevent murder, suicide and accidents too. What is the point in having such windows, if they can be broken unnoticed and used in such a malice way? My college dorm was equipped and retrofitted for the same reasons in the late 90's. Even cruise ships have motion detection off the sides to detect objects or people falling overboard.

I'm dumbfounded at their lack of intelligent, efficient security or updated use of simple technology found in everyday homes. Like an alarm that sounds when a door or window is opened and it gives you the location. Or a fire alarm that sounds an alarm when you try to disarm it. Yet, it's not in a resort worth $100's of millions of dollars?? Not making light of the situation, I have neighbors with iRing door bells that provide better security and real time video than what has been said about Mandalay Bay’s security.

This is not of course, including the "missing video footage" that Mandalay Bay won't or can't release. Why? Footage that could be of a guest, an employee or the attacker disarming the fire alarm. Other footage that security might have seen that would raise red flags. Either they have the footage and ignored it, they have fake cameras, or no one was actually watching the real time footage at the times in questions. In any case someone at Mandalay Bay seriously dropped the ball or was in on attack and is directly to blame for not alerting authorities or the resort security to this activity. It resulted in putting all your guests and at the time, all the event goers’ lives at risk! It makes me wonder if ANY of your resorts/hotels hold their guests security and safety to high standards. It makes me wonder if you’re putting your gambling dollars before priceless lives. It makes me seriously doubt spending any time at your establishments until you've answered for Mandalay's roll in this tragedy. Or until you can assure me that ALL your establishments/properties can take simple steps towards better, more effective security.

And I should note; I'm not a conspiracy person. I'm just thinking Mandalay Bay has had some explaining to do!! And you as their partner, owners, managers and sponsors should see to it, or be held accountable for your part in that murderous attack. Simply put, it was unforeseen and unthinkable, but due to the lack of simple pro-active measures it was worsened by Mandalay Bay’s incompetent security.

Please address these issues at ALL your properties. You owe your members and guests an explanation. You owe your future guests the proper security and safety measures to make sure you’re more aware of the activity on your property! And lastly, you should be motivated to make your guests safety and security of the utmost highest priority, and not rely on making the minimum industry requirements but set higher standards for your property and team members.

DIY - Homemade Super Hero Invitations with sewn on cape!

2017-07-26T11:37:00.001-07:00

This is a DIY Homemade Super Hero Invitations, with a sewn on cape!! I selected a "tall" hero shape and decided they would fit in regular letter size envelopes. I also used card stock so that the invitation was more sturdy. I used t-shirt material from Wal-mart for the capes, because it won't fray. I printed off clip art - with an added text box with the invitation information. I then printed off a cut piece of the super - hero's arm for the cape part. (see below)
Mikey helps to make his birthday invitations! He loves Batman!!

I used a sewing machine to gently sewed on the cape (just once across) to the "arm", before attaching the arm to the invitation.

This is the finished project, I imagine it would work with just about any caped HERO!! It certainly was fun to make, I just made it up!! Just a little more interesting than a plain paper invitation. Enjoy!!

The random keys. Junk drawer.

2016-08-25T10:19:00.001-07:00

I was going through our junk drawer and came across the same bowl we've had for almost 2 decades filled with keys. Moved from my husbands apartment 20 years ago, to his first house and then again 2 years ago to our new home now. I've cleaned it out multiple times. The keys have dust on them and haven't been used in years. I am not sure if they are extras, if they are left behind after said item was tossed or broken or lost, heck they might even belong to someone else. I don't even know how we got this many. As many times as I seen this bowl when I open the drawer, I can't remember once placing a key in there. Why do I have them? How do I keep accumulating more? I should just throw them out. But then I hesitate. What if?

What if I need a key and it's in here? What if, in the future I figure out what the key goes to (like I find my missing bike lock) but I've thrown out the key? What if I come across something locked - that by the way I must not have tried to unlock in the last decade - and I don't have the key anymore? There is even one marked "Emergency Key"...and I NO IDEA what it goes to! Essentially rendering it useless in any emergency! This key literally has no purpose.

Have you ever tried to throw out your keys? Keys are almost impossible to throw out. It goes against your every intuition in your body. I feel I'm hardwired to keep every key, "in case of an emergency". I've thrown out a key before, then reached down and gotten back out of the trash because I just had a feeling "I might need it someday". Not someday soon apparently.

I don't even use keys anymore. I use a garage door opener, I have key card at work and an electronic fob for the car and my new lock on my bike is combination. I should just throw them out, but I cant!!

One second at a time. A widows exspeience

2016-08-25T10:02:00.001-07:00

A widows experience as written by Kathy Worrell:

The door bell rings and wakes me. I sit on the bed for a second; are the kids up? Is 'dad' home? Yeah he's here, I think? I would of gotten a text right? What time is it? Ok, moving towards door and yawning, taking the stairs easy. It's dark. I see through the window police lights. Police? I look through the peep hole and confirm it's a man in uniform. Wait, I know him. I say "just a minute" and unlock the top of the door and open it. Now squinting at the light of the porch. He begins to speak. I try to think of his name...last name, last name? Wait. What? It's my husbands supervisor and standing back is another two officers I know well. He can tell I'm not listening. Where is my husband, why didn't he answer the door? He begins again. I say "No!".
He shakes his head as if he doesn't even believe what he's saying. And I yell "No!" Again.
He put his hand up, his eyes close, he bites his lips and and comes towards me. I attempt another "No" but it's inaudible, my raised hand is clinched and he hugs me as I both hit his chest and barley stand with the weight of the realization of why they are here.
As additional people arrive, they've helped with a small bag of things. Someone takes my cell phone and makes some calls. I neither remember telling them who to call, or what I was wearing. Or if I dressed at all. Someone hands me shoes. What time is it? Someone offers to stay with the kids.
I'm driven to the hospital. Before I know it, or how, I'm there. In a scene of blurry faces, white hallways and incoherent voices I'm lead to his room. He's hooked up to tubes, monitors and wires.

There's a series of different people, nurses, doctors, the EMT, other officers that speak to me, but I hardly hear any real words. I'm offered food, a glass of water and chances to "take a break" or go for a walk. But I refuse with a couple nods and half hearted smiles and glances that say "I can't" or at least that's what I heard myself saying in my head.

I'm spending every second I can here. I'm holding his hand so he knows I'm here. I'm frozen. I'm waiting but I'm dreading the inevitable. And as inaudible as the voices around me are so are the sounds until I hear it. It's the beep. I'm suddenly deft but I hear it. Time has instantly slowed and the beep is all that exist and although it seems like nurses and doctors are busy in a hurried attempt to save his life, I'm frozen again. Merely a spectator and everything is in slow motion. I still only hear the beep. Is my heart still beating? Did I remember to breathe? Can I move? Tick. One second. Tick, another second. Time has not stopped, but I have. I can't think, I can't move but my heart drops as the gravity of the pain starts to rush over me. Heat rises through my chest and up my face, as tears run down my face one a time, one after another. Tick. I can hardly swallow as it seems every tear is coming up through my throat at once and pour out my eyes. Tick. Every second is horrible.
I'm still holding his hand and as they tell me it's time. The time. The time of death. Tick. And although the beep has stopped, I still feel it, I still hear it. Tick. Just one second at a time is all I can face next. Tick.
I can't comprehend what's just happened. I'm still holding his hand and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Tick. Facing anything after this is impossible to imagine. So I'm just going to stay here now. Breathe. Tick.
Just take it one second at a time. Breathe. Tick. They need me to let go of his hand. Breathe. Another second. Sign a paper. Tick. Breathe. Tick. Tears. Tick.

He gone but he's still physically here for a minute. Tick. Before they take him. Just take it one second at a time. Tick. So I look him over carefully again and again and again. Tick. A nurse hands me a bag of his belongings. Tick. Others are there. Tick. Hugs bring no relief. Tick. Gentle touches on the shoulder. Tick. With out the strength to say anything. Tick. I lean over and kiss the sheet covering his forehead and whisper I love you. Tick. And I hear in my mind what I always heard in return...I love you more. Tick.

For days or what might have a just been hours, I take it one second at a time. Tick. The ride home. Tick. Hugging my children. Tick. Changing my clothes. Tick. Tears. Everything I did, every move, physically hurts for awhile. Tick. Everything was like doing everything for the first time again. Tick. Shower. Tick. Eat. Tick.

People are still in the house. Tick. It helps. Tick. It's easy to become consumed by the outpour of support and seconds turned into minutes. Tick. Just take one minute at a time. Tick. Planning the funeral. Tick. Choose pictures of us. Pictures of him with the kids. Our wedding day. Tick. Someone takes the kids shopping for what their going to wear. Tick. I sit in my closet. Tick. It seems nothing is worthy of wearing. Tick. Last call. Tick.
I became more functional, I could plan in blocks of an hour. Just take one hour at a time. Tick. Pack up a couple of his things. Tick. Tick. I have kids. I had to function for them. Just take it one day at a time. Tick. They'd have to go back to school. Tick. Just take it one week at a time. Tick. Every news cast of another officer killed brings a flood of emotions back. Tick.
Everything we would do from now on would be different. Tick. Would be without him. First holidays. Just take it one month at a time. Tick. First birthdays. Tick. And then there was his death date. We had made a year. Just take it one year at a time. It literally felt like we were surviving sometimes. It never gets easy. Tick. If I allowed it I could easily fall apart at any given moment if I thought about it. Tick. For my loss, for my kids loss and for his parents loss. For his loss. Every time I experience something with our kids, I sense his loss. Tick. Tears. Just take it one second at a time.

*a special thanks to the women who shared their experiences of loss, for which I based this on. It was hard enough to write and I am fortunate not to know this kind of loss. However, the pain, emotion and grief pulsed through me as I tried to recreate a compilation of some of their experiences. No experience is the same. My thoughts are with them and their families.

Journaling journey

2016-08-23T17:05:00.001-07:00

Here it is. I dug up all my journals - 34 in all, two I'm currently working on and including two "originals" with locks and everything. If you're counting there is 6X8.5 inch booklets with a hundred to two hundred pages each, I typically only write on one side of the page...not front and back. With an average of 125 words on a page, that's a whopping 400,000+ words of wisdoms. Or something like that. Ha ha ha.
They began in 1989 where I roughly wrote 8 pages of "Dear Diary, nothing happened. Love Kathy"... then I erased 23 pencil written pages with an eraser! Whatever it was, only two to three hand written lines on the page, I was committed to it being gone! I begin again and 1990 with another random 8 pages about a fight with a friend, a trip to my dad's house, then I don't return until March of 1991 when I'm in the sixth grade and had my first kiss, I also happen to mention the Desert Storm and Iraqi War. But in case something happens to all the history books and the internet, don't count on my diary's to rewrite history or anything. Ha ha ha. Then I'm MIA until 1994 when looking back on what I had wrote 5 years ago, I quote "I knew nothing back then!" I tell myself. I'm sure you can hear the laughter from my closet now.
I can't wait to read more. I don't know if I'm happy I wrote it down...because I obviously forgot it all and may be that was a good thing. Among my journals were roughly eight books I had half started since my teens. As a child I wrote, illustrated and finished three books; one about babysitting, one about having my own band and the last one was about a romance.
The only 3 I liked out of the 8 I started later in life were all as well, all fiction and all very different. One as a romance novel, one is a thriller and the other is a comedy. I sure am eclectic! Motivated yes, creative yes, focused...I struggle with that. Once I have an idea the door opens and everything comes out at once. Hence the reason for half started books laying around. I have since determined to finish my last three favorite and most promising books. So stay tuned!

The Dancer - Poem by Kathy Worrell

2016-06-06T22:11:00.001-07:00

The Dancer

She waits behind the curtain
Just before she takes the stage
Anticipation and anxiety
Consume her tiny frame

Tightly fitted ballet shoes
And her hair in a bun
Her costume is timeless
The skirt is waiting to be spun

Finally it's her turn
It's the cue to begin
One foot takes the stage
And she twirls like the wind

By Kathy Worrell
8-23-07

Dear NCL Management - About Our cruise to Hawaii??

2014-08-02T10:02:00.001-07:00

This was from our Norwegian Cruise Lines or NCL Cruise to Hawaii in 2007. Destination was amazing, you can't go wrong visiting Hawaii on any day...but getting there was another issue. Please take a look at the letter I wrote to NCL, it makes for an interesting read. I was offered two $500 vouchers, for another two passengers to cruise but it was dated and expired in a year. There is no way we were taking another expensive trip, on a cruise line we didn't really care for, within a year. Needless to say they were unable to "buy" us back, as I think there attempt was half-hearted anyway, and we have never been back to NCL. We would like to go on another Hawaiian cruise or trip, but we'll have to find another way, and we since been on an additional 5 cruises and now have children to take, and took two new passengers with us.

Dear NCL,

My name is Kathy, my husband and I were passengers on the December 10 – 17, 2007 cruise to Hawaii, reservation #13964007. I would like this opportunity to address some serious concerns we had during our vacation aboard your ship, during that cruise.

We are avid vacationers who particularly like cruising; the cruise to Hawaii was our 12^th cruise together since 1998. Hawaii was on our list of destinations and as itineraries go, NCL was the only cruise line able to offer the Hawaiian cruise vacation we wanted. We normally cruise with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) but we were open to trying NCL and knew that we could expect some differences.

Check in and boarding was a long process, however that is sometimes the case with cruising. Once aboard the ship we were not let into the corridors leading to the rooms, because they were “still being cleaned”. We took our carry-ons with us as we waited up top, at a table by the swimming pool and I noticed immediately that the crew was all American. I engaged in conversation with crew member – Jenn (a hostess of sorts, she answered questions and pointed people in the right direction). She explained to me why it was all American, divulged some information on the wages and working differences between American and International crews and I began to understand why this cruise was so much more expensive.

I am a Recreation/Travel and Tourism Major from Arizona State University, with 10 years experience in customer services, special events, conferences and recreation; so I was uniquely interested in this and enjoyed the time she took to talk with us. I was then interested to see what differences I would recognize in service and standards aboard this ship. Because I learned our fare was paying American wages, I felt better about the added expenses. After traveling to Europe, I was sure that this cruise would not only meet my expectations but in an “All American” (i.e. Burger King - "You can have it your way") fashion would be a great accommodating experience.

After a couple hours, we were then allowed to our room. To our disappointment our luggage was not at the room and it appeared as if no one had cleaned it yet. Although the bed was made, the towels were not completely re-stocked and the mini bar was missing items, apparently from the previous passengers. I noticed that my state room attendants’ information was on a note card on the desk and before dinner I called to report those issues. I was told at that time, that “our attendant” was at dinner (or on break) but that the message would be relayed.

Before dinner, I also scheduled a pedicure at the Spa for that evening. I waited 20 minutes, and then I was taken back to an area where they did the pedicures. There were no pedicure thrones; I sat in a regular chair as I waited for my technician to fill a mobile foot bucket. Using a hose, she filled the bucket, added some bubbly stuff and chatted casually with another technician. Although, I enjoyed talking with her, I found that her conversations about work, her family and her supervisor to be a little inappropriate. I recently had a back injury and was very uncomfortable in the chair and could not relax as I tried to keep my feet up on that rolling bucket. The whole experience was very awkward, distracting, and did not meet the expectations I had of a relaxing pedicure. My suggestion is, don’t offer services you are not properly equipped to handle and do not charge spa rates for substandard services.

Later, we ate at the main restaurant and then attended the show, we returned to our room sometime around 10pm. Our luggage was delivered but we were very disappointed to see that not only had our room NOT been turned down but that my request had gone unanswered. Before calling housekeeping again, I began to inspect the room; I found that most of the silver fixtures still had fingerprints on them, the mirrors were dusty and smudged and the top of the TV and shelves were dusty. I finally called to complain and I was then told that I my state room attendant was "not on this cruise" and that we had been assigned another crew member and assured that someone would be there in the morning to clean and make up the room.

In the morning, we stopped for breakfast (at the buffet) before we left the ship for our excursion (Hilo). Besides our state room, one of the first things that really concerned me was that there was a line of people waiting for coffee. I couldn't believe it, on this huge ship full of people on vacation, it was NOT an option to run out of coffee during peak breakfast hours. Apparently, it had never occurred to the crew to walk around with coffee pots and pour coffee for customers; instead one crew member stood by as the coffee took 15mins to brew - stood there! The next thing I found to be tacky for a cruise ship was that there were no labels on the food items, some steamer trays were empty and that the silver ware was in a large bin, which everyone was touching and digging through to get their own utensils. It appeared as though the breakfast rush had surprised the crew and they were consequently unprepared.

We then set out on our excursion, which we enjoyed that day (Hilo); the Volcano and Rainbow Falls. We returned to our state room about 6:00 pm to find that it had once again, not been serviced at all. I called down to housekeeping and was assured someone would be up within the ½ hour to assist us. Once the steward arrived, he apologized, told us he would return after he finished his “route” and we left for dinner.

We ate again in the main restaurant, we had a different wait staff and he appeared aggravated and rushed. A different waiter/busser approached the table and poured our waters in silence, when our waiter arrived he set down the basket of bread and he asked if we wanted anything else to drink. I asked “Who are you?” and suggested that when he approaches a guest, he properly introduce himself and offer us some menus. He continued to serve us in silence and in a hasty manner. As I would soon find out, to be a “trend” among those serving us on your ship, we felt as though we were a “nuisance” to service providers and did not feel welcome most of the time.

When we returned to our room, it was now no surprise that it had not been services yet!! I called housekeeping, this time for a “manager” and as I waited for them to arrive, still discussed with the room, I began writing down this list of awful experiences. I demanded that the entire room be deep cleaned; if the mirrors weren't wiped off, I was left to imagine what else wasn't cleaned! I also made it clear that I expected to have service every morning and night and not have to call to get it. The floor manager (her name escapes me) apologized, promised that the state room would be serviced without further problems and told us that she would deduct the two days of tips off of our bill. We had no further issues with the steward services. However there would other issues regarding our room.

Note: on our way to dinner, after speaking with the floor manager, about two floors up on the starboard side we noticed a room attendant standing with his cart in the hallway, talking on a cell phone!

Although, I had addressed the mini bar items with the floor manager and left a note for our newly assigned room steward to re-stock it, the mini bar was not restocked. So, I called the housekeeping to ask them to bring up the missing items – plus extra items, like bottled water, that I knew we would be using (as a convenience, I suppose). I was told by housekeeping to call guest services, I was told by guest services to call room service. I made it very clear that I wanted the items for the mini bar. I contacted room service and they told me to contact housekeeping, I almost completed the circle again, when I finally settled on buying the items from room service, as no one else was able to assist me! Just a note: Guest Services and Room Services should be all inclusive departments and “transferring” or forwarding a phone call should not be an option.

Have you ever stayed on this ship? Have you ever had a secret shopper? It was only the second day and I had encountered problems with; luggage, housekeeping, dinning staff, guest services, the spa, room services and later the photo services, an on-board shop and our excursions!

The next day, I was already exhausted from dealing with services but was not expecting it to get any worse. This day (Maui) our excursion was the Rainbow Falls and Grotto, and Sunset Cruise. As we embarked on our tour and approached the pier, a NCL photographer offered to take my picture. I typically love pictures and always buy them, so I stood with my husband and smiled. He lowered the camera and asked that he take a picture of only me, I said “No, that’s OK, I want him in the picture”. He then waived at my husband again and said it was for individuals. Totally disturbed by his refusal to take our picture together, I asked “We can’t take one together?” and he said “No.” Needless to say we walked away, happy to take our own pictures at no charge. By the way, “No” is not something customers like to hear.

The Sunset Cruise was eventually cancelled due to a large automobile accident on the main highway; our bus turned around and returned us to the ship, it was disappointing but I don’t think there was anything NCL could have done to prevent that situation.

The next day in Maui, we had an exceptionally early departure time for our excursion (Summit Lavender and Winery Tour), so we left early for breakfast and then hurried to the bus stop. We waited about 30 - 45 mins waiting for our tour called and before someone asked what we were waiting for. Even after we told them, they did not mention the tour was cancelled. Why hadn't anyone sent a note to our room or been looking for us to arrive, to tell us that the tour had been cancelled? Once an hour passed we approached a small stand that said excursions on it, the man (Mark or Matt?) there was able to call on radio to find out, the excursion was cancelled. We were very disappointed again, however the man was very helpful and able to credit us, and sign up for the Skeet Shooting Excursion. The Skeet Shooting Excursion was so neat and we had so much fun it almost seemed to rejuvenate our spirits. We really enjoyed the driver/range employee, the scenic road, the beautiful and remote Skeet Range and I highly recommend keeping that unique adventure among your excursions.

We returned from the excursion a little early before dinner and we took the opportunity to lounged pool side and relax. While sitting in the hot tub I run into other people who had similar situations and “run-in’s” with unsatisfactory service. One woman with a family of four complained that they did not have a turn down service since they arrived and consequently had to retrieve their own bucks out from the ceiling and use deck/pool towels for the shower. One other couple stated “We hate this boat! We love the stops.”

The next observation I made is that the poolside service staff was very scarce. I ordered one drink from a roaming waiter, the rest I resorted to going to the bar for service. On a Royal Caribbean Cruise (to any destination) you will often find that there is an abundance of people waiting to serve you. And these crew members not only sell the products but they sell themselves. They learn your name, they learn your drink, they make it fun and the follow up with refills. I believe that this RCCL strategy is not only so customers will feel important (what a concept!) but so that waiters can increase sales. I can imagine the sheer volume of drink sales your wait staff misses out on because they don’t interact and involved the customers, yet alone come around twice.

That evening we tried to make reservations at the Italian restaurant but the woman on the phone told us, that reservations could only be made the night before. She instructed us to go to that restaurant and place our name on the waiting list. We went to the restaurant but the host told us it was full. Instead we went to the Mexican Food restaurant and waited only 15 mins to be seated but our dinner took over an hour to be served. So far the “Freestyle Dinning” was not something that appealed to us, because it was inconsistent and time consuming, at least on this ship. I also missed the cruise dining experience; the caliber of food, the presentation and the service that comes from regular dinning on other ships.

That night in our stateroom we tried to order a movie on the TV but the TV stated that “Options” was “unavailable”. (Movies and other TV “Options” would inconveniently not be available till our fifth night).

The next day in Kona, we again enjoyed our excursion and the destination. That evening we decided to eat in the main dining room and arrived around 8:00pm. We had made arrangements to meet up with a couple from the cruise at 9:00pm in one of the lounges. To our fulfillment we were seated almost immediately, was served our meal in an apt amount of time and arrived at our meeting place, just before 9:00pm, however our guests were about 15 mins late. They apologized and contributed the wait to the “slow” service in the main dining room. Having just come from the main dining room, I confirmed that they had in fact just eaten there. They claimed that they did not have reservations, so they conceded to eating in the main dining room. They arrived at 7:00pm, were seated sometime after 7:30pm and had just finished eating when they realized it was 9:00pm and time to go. The one thing I expect from customer service is that it is equal, consistent and satisfactory, and that seems to be something missing from all of your guest services, especially dinning!

The one place we enjoyed eating and after all, did not mind paying the extra $20 was at the steak house. The manager (who soon knew us by name) would be the first person to treat us like customers; he acted as the Matradee, he sometimes hostess, answered phones, toke reservations (even in person), would stopped by a table to serve something or ask how the meal was or acted the “one stop shop” manager; your other department heads could learn from. He was well spoken, respectful, kind and appeared as though he was there to do his job and he did it well. Even the wait staff was consistent in his style and we ate there three times. I thanked him and applauded his management.

(If you thinking reading about our experience is exhausting, try living through it!)

Eventually, I would have an unpleasant experience with a woman in the gift shop, literally ignoring the elephant (customer) in the room and another with a sales person in the photo shop over making an additional print. Our overall customer service aboard this ship was abysmal and thanks to the many many many unpleasant encounters with had with a variety of staff will not consider traveling aboard a NCL again. You have lost two very important, potentially loyal cruisers because of this experience. We not only travel often but in big groups and consistently encourage new cruisers (8 over the last 10 years), so you can imagine that we will not be recommending NCL to anyone either or planning any family/group vacations aboard any of your ships. I only hope that this letter helps you to improve your customer service and guides you in a direction of consistency, so that service is the same in every department, aboard every ship and in every destination. You need to develop a better training mission, something that your employees can embrace and work by. I understand the fundamental differences between training in the US and among other countries, however there are universal ways to engage your employees, and checks and balances to manage each ship, each fleet and the company as a whole. After all there are MANY American based or all American staffed "travel and tourism" companies that do a great job at customer service and exceed my expectations every time (i.e. Marriott). I believe that the majority of people we came in contact with were dealing with issues of poor management, they seemed unhappy, undirected and in some cases had poor moral, among poor work ethics. When in reality you’re selling the “experience of service” to people on vacation and customers should never know the grief behind it. I paid $1,400 to NOT care, because every other day of the year I do. I have worries and problems of my own, I don’t want to be bothered with your employee’s problems when I am trying to forget mine, I want an experience and I expect my money’s worth!

Redevelop your standards and higher your expectations of staff, I think you’d be surprised. My supervisory motto is: Excellence breeds excellence. Have excellence at every level, have excellent and extraordinary leadership and the rest will follow by example. Best wishes!

Kathy Worrell, Mesa, AZ

DIY: Home Made Moving Announcement and House Warming Party

2014-07-29T22:25:00.001-07:00

We recently bought a house and are moving. This is not our address (I may address that in another blog someday) and this is not the date the house was ready either....But when it was finished and the dates and address corrected, this was by far the cutest and MOST creative home made cards I have every made. Also the most expensive, about $10 each, with postage about $12 and I made 75. I got all the supplies from Michael's, except the labels, I got those at Staples, and did all the printing at home. I got the clip art: the moving van, the "return" finger, the up arrows, the fragile symbol and other box symbols off the internet.

So this is what I used and how you can do it yourself and make your own Moving Announcements, or House Warming Party invitations.

In the list of supplies are inward 5X7 opening cards with envelopes in "cardboard" brown (they came 10 to a package). I also got grated or cardboard textured scrap booking paper which came in 12X12 sheets and worked out to make 5 "side pieces" each. I also used double sided tape, an exsacto knife and lots of other blades, scissors, a pointed pen, a black sharpie, scrap booking tape, a cutting board, masking tape in light tan and red, and address labels in CLEAR and white for the "packaging" look.

I also bought and used that clear bubble wrap to make my new work contact information. I would have used it anyway, to still give it that packing material feel, but turns out I slapped a clear label on there with the information and it looked even better.

Here you can really see why I wanted the inward opening cards. I wanted to give the cards the feel of "unpacking a box" when you were opening it. I taped with masking tape the front folds and back, to give it the taped box look! It worked!!

I made so many it was hard to stuff and stack them, so this is just a photo of how I kept them organized. Hope you like this! I loved making them and it was a lot of work, but really worth it. Enjoy!!

DIY: How to Stretch Leather Boots to fit your calves

2014-02-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

This is an optional way, a very easy way: you can do it yourself and stretch your boots. (I bought these beautiful boots at Victoria Secret in size 7.5 and unfortunately they did not list calf size, but it is hard to find boots with big, yet not clunky fitting calves if your not a size 2, and especially in the smaller sizes of shoes.) Now these are leather boots, and I have not had this "stretching" experience with other kinds of boot materials. Although, I should note that materials that make up boots and shoes Gap/Target do seem to stretch pretty easily when worn. Meaning I can wear them in pretty easily. So if you try this with your boots that are not leather, or double lined like these, carefully observe each day to see that it is going the way you want.

This shows you how far up the zipper got before I stretched them. Again not sure what size they are, I might guess 14 or 16 inches. And then I might say my calf is 18...again if this didn't work as well as it did, I might have been forced to measure and take better notice. And you are welcome to do that with yours.

This is a regular kids 8 1/2 inch playground ball. I happen to have two around. I deflated them and inserted them in down to where the zipper. You could use a basketball, soccer ball, volley ball or anything that is bigger than your boot, your trying to stretch. You will also need a bike or ball pump with a ball needle. I show both here, but obviously it was easier to use the bike pump.

Here I show the balls inserted in the boots. These boots are double lined leather and have a heavy metal zipper, I was almost scared when I opened them because I didn't think anything would stretch them. And I didn't want to buy an ugly extender, and I did not want to mess with the integrity of the look of these. And by searching the internet, from frozen overnight to extenders, I did not find anything that I felt comfortable with.

This shows me actually pumping up the ball to help stretch out the boots.

This is both of them, just showing how it looked and how I left them for about a week. I kept checking them to make sure that the seems were secure, that the zipper was fine, that the color and the textures were not compromised.

This is how you let the air out. If you are not familiar with air pumps and needles, etc. I let the air out and then removed the balls and below is what the boots looked like after the stretching. As you can see they do not look stretched and the seems are all fine. If they don't fit right away, you can always put them back in. I intended on pumping in air every other day, like two pumps. But I didn't get a chance to, and then ended up just fine.

Its hard to tell but this is my leg in the boots!! They both fit of course, but I just had to show you them zipped all the way up. I didn't have to do any weird freezing thing and risk getting wet, besides who had room in their freezer for these boots? And I don't have to ruin these boots with a funky extender or weird alteration. I wish you luck and hope this helps you. Again be careful and enjoy!

DIY: My Little Pony Party for my daughters 5th Birthday

2014-02-20T19:27:00.000-08:00

This is an entry about my daughters 5th Birthday Party and what I did for the My Little Pony (MLP) theme. Below is a couple of the decorations and two the home made centerpieces. One I used a MLP bucket available at Partycity.com, the other items are photos that I printed off the internet and cut out and matted, then added some embellishments from a craft store.

This is the MLP Piñata I also ordered from the Partycity.com.

This is the MLP cups I made into party favors.

This is the balloons we got at the Party City store. But I had to order the various different mylar balloons from different websites because they were only available in certain places: Walmart, Target and Party City.

This is the cake I had made by Piece of Cake in Mesa, AZ. I added the MLP minis that I bought at Toy's'R'Us and added them at home.

Going with the theme of the rainbow, I made these rainbow Jell-O shots out of the left over jello. Below you can see that I tried to make a rainbow jello bowl. I tried what I saw on Pinterest but I think it works better in smaller cups, in this wide of diameter and size of bowl, it just brown from the top.

This you can see the bags I made for the candy in the piñata.

Here is a better look at the mylar balloons.

After all is done, she finished her collections of various MLP's. She got all the minis, the regular figurines, the plush TY Babies, and the MLP Girls.

She also got a medium, 20 inch plush of Twilight to round out that collection too.

Here is a closer look at the collection of the TY Baby MLP. To see more about my thoughts on the differences between the TY MLP's and the Hasbro Plush MLP's. See my previous post. Enjoy!

My Little Pony Plush 4 inch and TY Beanie baby comparison

2014-02-12T12:40:00.001-08:00

I am going to compare, make suggestions and discuss best practices for care of My Little Pony plushes of all sizes. For my daughter who LOVES My Little Pony (MLP) the show, and the characters like the plastic classic figurines with brush-able manes and tails. She has a variety of sizes of these dolls, plushes, and mini figurines. When she first started liking the show, she was 3 and there was not as much merchandise out as there is now. The new generation of MLP's show was in it's third season. So as first we kind of settled for what we could get our hands on. In this case is was the small 4 inch plush size MLP's by Mattle that sold at both Toys'r'Us and Target. They were cute enough, soft and because they had fleece like strips hair, it did not need up keeping and she could take them to school and sleep with them and no messy hair to brush. So for younger kids this plush is pretty perfect. Small enough to take with you or stick in a stroller, a pocket in the car and easy to care for. However, when the TY Beanie Baby My Little Ponies came out, it was apparent just what these smaller versions were missing. So for one, the TY MLP's are a little bigger, by about 3/4 inch in diameter and about an inch and half taller, if not two. Making then about 6 inch tall. The TY MLP's also have real hair to brush, bigger more true to character eyes, softer plush and better coloring (as seen in the photo here) The smaller MLP are just a tad darker (or in Twilight Sparkles case a tad lighter) and the features are just a tad more generic.

You can also see that on the left the TY MLP has a shinny horn and embroidered eyes and eye lashes. So a little more detail and what seems to better materials used to emphasis those details were used in the TY babies.

Sometimes it's difficult to get all the characters, or at least the six from the show in any one form: from the plastic ponies, to the small plush dolls, to the TY MLP Babies, to the Build A Bear (BAB) - there was some sort of strategic delayed release of each character. So we had to wait, and check back in at different places to see when or what character was coming out next.

Here is the collection of the TY MLP. which I first found a TY MLP at an airport about 6 months ago, and recently found all six at Party City, Mesa AZ. Just in time for my daughters 5th birthday. They are all stuffed well and stand up alone.

Here is the smaller 4inch Mattel plushes. I do not have all of the six main characters, because between Toys'r'us and Target I was only able to get or find the 4, however there were other characters like DJ (seen here) and Cherry Lee, and some other of the shows characters which I appreciate, but was most interested in collecting all six of the main characters. Because she has most of the shows characters that she likes in the classic plastic figurines, I did not find it necessary to have them also in the plush.

This is the collection of Twilight Sparkles. The BAB in the far back left, a 20 inch Mattel plush to the right, and then across the bottom from left to right is the TY, the smaller plush, the plastic figurine and the mini figurine.

Here is our collection of plush Fluttershy's the large one is from Build A Bear, the far left is the TY MLP and the middle is the small plush. As I pointed out before the TY babies are much closer to looking like the Build A Bear MLP and the characters themselves. The plush and hair used is very similar. The build or structure of them is almost identical, the seams are even the same and I haven't measured to know, but they look like they could be to scale just different sizes. I really like the the BAB because of the softness of the plush and the fact that BAB sells outfits, like shoes and skates for the ponies, that also fits their other BAB animals. But it is just a fun experience to go and "build" your animal. However, be warned the BAB MLP hair is REALLY hard to take care of. We did not know this when we bought our first BAB MLP which was Rainbow Dash, the hair got terribly knotted, it seemed to be a horrible dry, course and unforgiving type of hair. Since this is my daughters favorite character she took it everywhere, including to day care where she slept with it. This further made a mess of the hair. I tried everything from water, to using de-tangler, to leave in conditioner, to trying to brush the hair out every time she came home. Eventually, I gave up and tried to talk to the BAB I got here from. I asked if there was anything we could do. They said no and they did not offer a replacement or refund. It made me hesitant to buy additional BAB MLP's but the BAB manager suggested keeping the hair in braids or in pony tails like they are in the store. So far, so good. And that is what I have done with TY MLP's hair as well.

Here she is with the MLP Dolls from the movie, the TY plushes, the classic plastic figurines and the mini figurines. Personally, I enjoy the little original Ponies because it brings back memories, but the mini figures are fun - because they travel easy!! Throw them in a bag, they can go in a pool or tub and no worries about the hair getting tangled.

Bloopers Reel: It's Never too early!

2014-01-03T21:17:00.001-08:00

DIY: Find It game, How to make your own "Find It" Game

2013-12-11T10:51:00.001-08:00

This is a very unique project, because it is based on a very unique game. I once saw it in a toy store - called "Find It" and it consisted of a clear container and many mini objects to find. It's roughly around $10 - $20 depending on where you buy it. Then a friend of a friend gave a gift to a child that was based on this same concept. Only it was liquid based and she had made it, and the objects were charms (minus the silver ring) of things. I tried to find the instructors or examples on-line but had no luck. I wanted to create a fun and unique craft for a teen event - so I needed to be able to make affordable - bulk DIY: Find It games for them.

So here is a picture of supplies I used from Discount School Supply and below is the link to Barnes and Noble where they have one for sale.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/toys-games-find-it-original-edition/13740729?cm_mmc=googlepla-_-toysgames_10to25-_-q000000633-_-9780641845031&cm_mmca2=pla&ean=9780641845031&isbn=9780641845031&r=1

SUPPLIES: So here is the list of the supplies I used to make 12 - 16 Find It games: empty tennis ball containers, 4 buckets of fuse beads - or any colorful filler that you want to use (see options below), poker chips, globe key chains, flip flop key chains, mini clothes pin, paper clips, rubber bands, mini bottles, toy mini dinosaurs, mini beach bucket beads, buttons, mini jingle bells, glass dice beads, glass dog bones, plastic coins, letter tiles (look like Scrabble pieces), and sports beads that are in the shapes of mini balls.

They also sell colorful rice, and pony beads, which I considered for the fillers. But in the end, I thought this was the most affordable, closest to the actual product and the most durable and long lasting.

I chose the items as random as possible, with some that were easily accessible - like paper clips and rubber bands. I also chose items I thought were best to duplicate in additional projects - like the toy dinosaurs, buttons, poker chips, dice and letter tile - which I thought kids could use left over game pieces. But I have seen that these games come in themes - otherwise you could get overwhelmed with what to put in there!! And if you aren't going to do this in "bulk" - then you are limited to what you can find. Either way - this was fairly inexpensive for the bulk project and would have beat buying 14 games for each kid, plus they had the fun and experience of making it on their own!!

HOW TO: Anyway, once you have the supplies you are going to use, you will also need to prep the objects for hiding! For instance I had to remove any of the metal rings on the key chains and I added a note to my mini bottle. I also hand picked out the letters of the teens names for their letter tiles :) They you give each a kid a bad of their objects to hide, you can also give them an option to bring an item to add...(limit it to a 1inch X 1/2 inch object) and have them wipe out/clean their tennis tube. Once they have their scoop of filler they can begin to add objects as desired, till they are all in, plus filler - NOTE: leave an inch at the top, or there won't be any movement!! And lastly, glue the top on and add directions!

I printed a list of all the objects I brought for them and left two lines for them to pencil in something if they brought it. On the back of the list was instructions:

One person:
1) Find the objects and beat your best time!
2) Find the objects in alphabetical order
3) How many objects can you find in 2 mins (no looking at the list!)
4) Find every other object in order, then every third, and so on

Two person:
1) Who can find the most objects in 2 mins (no looking at the list!)
2) Time each other to see who can find all the items the fastest
3) Take turns finding every other object, then every third, and so on
4) ADD dice for more fun! Take turns and role the die, find the object that corresponds with that number.

Let me know if you come up with more ways to play!! Enjoy!

DIY: How to make Comic Book/Super Hero Center pieces and decorations!

2013-12-11T10:06:00.002-08:00

This is how to make, or how I made my own Comic Book and Super Hero Theme center pieces for a Banquet - where the theme was Super heroes. I blog about what I can't normally find on the internet. So I hope this can help you. I had to first search and collect the clip art to be used and download the fonts. (I went to 1001freefonts.com) I also used some of our own logos that were created for our conference.

Anyway, the idea was to create something that looked like a city scape and then a comic strip to accommodate it. I used my printer, foam boards, black construction paper, scissors, spray mount, exacto knife, glitter, comic book stickers and tea lights.

Here you can see the "strips" have been printed out and mounted to the foam board. I then used the exsacto knife to cut them out and score the edges where I bent them.

As you can see here 5 boards made 25 strips, for 25 tables. We ended up needing 30 - so it depends on how big you want them and how many you need.

Here you can see the strips cut out and the one is standing up, now that I have scored it.

Here is the finished product. To make the city scape for the centerpieces I used large (construction type) black poster paper. I made two city scape on each one. If you look at this example, you can guess what the city line looked like in the second one. And I used a silver sharpie to color in some "windows", and cut out some with a square hole punch. Some metallic star garland was added at the event and tea light were set in the middle to light up the table. The light reflecting off the metallic stars and casting a shadow on the city scape was perfect!! Enjoy!

Crafts for Kids: Kids Camps Crafts and Ideas for projects!

2013-12-11T09:51:00.001-08:00

Crafts for Kids: Kids Camp Crafts or Kids Crafts Ideas for projects!

My "formula" for class set up is this: I pick four to five projects that fit within the theme of the days projects: i.e. Animals, garden, space, bugs, etc. This fills up 45 mins to 1 hour nicely. I place one sheet of instructions on the table, but don't insist on children following an "example". I like to see what they come up with, and also it allows them to go at their own pace. I simply ask; "who is ready for the next project?". I also try to mix in different mediums: i.e. painting, gluing, stickers, stamping, drawing, cutting, molding, taping, etc. Using materials like paper, ceramic, wood, cardboard, plastic, fabric, yarn and the other plethora of materials that come in craft kits. I order on-line mainly from Oriental Trading Co., Discount School Supply and S&S Worldwide (SSWW). And I buy materials at Target, Michael's and JoAnne's Fabric stores.

This particular set of projects were based on "Feathered and Furry Friends" - we made a parrot, an owl and bunny and then used scrap fabric to make our own animal.

This used just cotton balls to fill in their bunny and paint to color them in.

Below was from a garden theme - this project was garden stones. We used air drying clay, mosaic tiles, buttons, "glass" plastic mosaic pieces and clear letters from Discount School Supply.

Here is a photo of the supplies we used and how I placed them in smaller bags for each table. I used a wire to cut the clay and divide it out. My favorite was the clear letter. They really added to the project and are very unique!

Below is from SSWW a DIY: Color me shoe. This was great for ALL ages, and this was for a teen night at the park event. I brought a box of sharpies and the shoes, and everyone got in on the fun. They also doodled notebooks too, for back to school. It was fun and a cute idea.

Toilet Paper roll crafts. I try to use as many recycled or reusable things I can find. I call these Toilet Paper roll rockets. Simply collect them, then hand them out and have the kids punch holes in the bottom of them for the streamers to tie in to.

I used sparkly foam to make circles. I found a temple on line, it showed the circle cut out, then make one straight cut to the middle (so only half way across). Then begin to make the circle into a cone, secure the cone with either tape, glue or staples. I found that the foam is so thick, it needed to be stapled. Then I used tape and glue to secure the cones to the paper rolls.

Next: we used pieces of foil to cover the rest of the rocket, metallic stars, and added the streamers. Optional: add a magnet for the fridge, or a string so you can hang it up!

Below was a "Pond Theme" - we made ponds, dyed small plush lizards, made a bug collage and painted ceramic Frog banks.

Enjoy and let me know your ideas!!

Old Sayings - enough already!

2013-08-16T09:38:00.001-07:00

If it were a snake it would have bit you...yes, because we do keep the snakes in the fridge. And, if I were Crocodile Dundee, I would be in the Amazon with protective clothing on and a machete and would of cut it's head off. Do snakes say "If it were a blond in her kitchen, you could've bit that!"?? No. Ok, so enough of the old sayings, that don't make sense!!

Like "a bird in hand is worth two in the bush" - whatever that means?

The Working Place For The Nice Girl

2013-08-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/06/24/nice-girls-still-dont-get-the-corner-office/?ncid=webmail

I just read this article and this topic was on my list of things to blog about - mainly the spirit of the workplace lately and it's progression over this difficult time, with this recession and past lay-offs - it has changed dramatically, no one can deny that. Not only are most people not getting raises for fifth year in a row, they have been asked to take furloughs, unpaid vacations and cut back dramatically on hours. Resulting in, at least in my personal situation of a 35% income loss, and to some a great more. Plus, we all know that everything else, like the cost to consumers is on the rise. These things plus other stressful situations is making everyone a bit more cranky! No more mr or misses nice guy!?

I know I have found myself trying to figure out the best way to deal with it all. Being a young woman, who already had some issues with the "working world" (yes, the "Good 'ol Boy" system still lives, and being blond doesn't help), it has been challenging and I do not have any clear directives as of now. Because as the article stated - no one "wants" to be the "bitch", but you can't constantly be the one everyone "abuses" either. I love how articles like this always have the same advice: "take the middle road", or "be a little of both - don't be a push over, but don't be mean - either way, no one will want to work with you!".

But they don't exactly tell you how. And yet I still know both kinds of people in my work place and no, no one wants to work with them. Yes, I have ideas about how these people could be better, but it still wouldn't make them "middle of the road". I would consider myself middle of the road and consistent. I don't say "yes" on good days and "no" on bad days, although I will say "come back later!" I take on the work load I want and think I can handle. I also take on things I think will grow or challenge me. I don't take on things volunteers can do, I tell people to "go get volunteers!" or "can the committee get together and do this at a meeting". I try not to make more work for myself, but I also feel like sometimes I dilute the work I am doing. My attention is so spread out, hardly any one project gets my full attention. Plus, friends complain to me, that there are the pet projects from upper management. Despite a declining economy and less staff - pet project still exist...damn! Those are my "PET" peeves, I hate pet projects (for other people). I'll admit I have one occasion. However, if I had more time, there are a couple of work projects I wish I could do better.

That being said, I am doing the best I can. I do believe others are doing the best they can and I give them the benefit of the doubt. However, if the recession is just enough to throw you over the edge - jump back and take a second to think about what your about to do. Making a scene, "cracking up" or having a melt down, is just not healthy for anyone. And right now it doesn't seem like it's not going to save your job or get people off your back. 'The mentality is "lay-low" and "stay off the radar" or "don't bring attention to yourself". It's everyman for himself! You don't want to be a "target", because that could mean you could lose your job.' That's what I have heard anyway. How is that possible - how did we get here?

Just by bringing up the slightest thing, shedding light on an inequality or uneven work load, or a hostile environment, make YOU the target? What happen to the squeaky wheel? They REPLACED it! Or in many cases they took it off and made the other three wheels work that much harder...

So the "Nice Girl" is someone totally different today, than just a year ago and will be totally different I think after this recession. Right now, there are just too many factors and variables to consider in each work place. If you have a nice working relationship with your supervisor or a mentor in your work place - ask them. If you really have to or want to say "NO!" to someone or something, ask them first for advice. Same goes for reporting inappropriate behavior or discrimination, ask them for advice on who and how to report it. It might just mean, keeping a log of it for right now and waiting it out!

Day in the life of someone SICK!!

2013-08-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

So I was SICK this week. This is a day in the life of a sick person:

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Ugh, what? The Alarm. My throat is closing. Can’t breathe! (Cough! Sniffle!)

OH NO!!!!! I’m sick! Damn! I mean I’m really sick! (Moan!)

Wait, let me try to get up and see how sick I am…Nope GET BACK IN BED!

Dude, you’re sick. Accept it. You’ll feel better if you just call into work and get some sleep!

No. I want to be the HERO. I want to charge in, try to make it and have them send me home. (Cough!)

Then I’ll get the sympathy vote! What vote??? Dumbass, just stay in bed, no one gives a shit, except when they end up sick, then they will they will think you are an asshole for showing up…sick!

Ok…I’ll call…(cough, cough) yeah, I sound sick enough…they’ll believe me! What’s to believe – YOUR SICK!

I feel so guilty! Wait, you feel guilty for being sick?? Whatever, call in!! Before you fall back …

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OH, what time is it? Whew, I have time to call in…or, if I get in the shower right now, I can be there in…

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Will you call in already? Yes, now I can just get back to bed.

Wait...now I am going to have to make up that report I missed today…

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2:38 – Wait is it 2:38 in the afternoon, or in the morning? How long have I been asleep? I either have till 5:30 pm till everyone gets home from work. Or I have till 5:30 am when my alarm goes off…

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What day is it? (Cough! Uhg!) Take some medicine. What medicine? ANYTHING!! I wish the medicine would just come to me, so I don’t have to get up…

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If you get up right now, you can go pee, get the medicine and then get back to bed. What DAY is IT??

I should take a shower, I think I've been in bed for TWO days straight? Wait, why hasn't anyone checked on me? They don't want to get sick?

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What if I wake up to the zombie apocalypse? Yeah, I should defiantly take a shower NOW! And maybe clean up the house a little. Should I watch a movie? NO! I'm too sick to watch a movie...staying home sick is not as FUN as it use to be!

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Seminary At Six AM: Christmas Candy Ball Game

2013-05-24T12:22:00.001-07:00

Seminary At Six AM: Christmas Candy Ball Game: What does this have to do with Seminary, you may be asking. This was an ideal alternative to a class Christmas gift exchange. I did not ...

Love this idea and I think I am going to try it with my teens at their summer event!! I might hide gift cards in there too!!

Event Planning: I am an Event Planner and I plan Special Events

2013-04-16T10:54:00.002-07:00

Event professionals, a thought: Post 9-11 and post Boston Marathon 4-15

I didn't get into this profession to read through Homeland Security manuals, to "brainstorm" about potential threats, worse-case-scenarios and train my staff/volunteers in triage or mass evacuations.

I wanted to give people a reason to celebrate, to come together and feel a sense of community. To experience new things to celebrate culture, diversity, history, music, food, talent and each other. To push limits; to create "Wow", to "take it up a notch", to make memories, to make children laugh, smile or expose them to something new, and make traditions. I want to give families a chance to do something together - outside of their TV's, out of their SUV's...away from technology. Furthermore, I want them to "get out" into their parks, community centers, city streets, and out of their comfort zones. I want to create opportunities for people to challenge themselves, and challenge others. I want to improve their quality of lives, by providing quality, safe experiences that foster their appreciation of the arts, sports, and tradition.

It is well known in our industry that you follow the first two rules of event planning: 1) SAFETY FIRST 2) Plan for the worst and hope for the best...

And as far as I am concerned I will continue to do that, and although I will always be as prepared as I can be! I HOPE that the only thing I have to worry about - is rain on my parade!!

I am an Event Planner. They call them "Special Events" for a reason. Smile, dance, sing, play, run, swim, cheer, compete, perform, Enjoy!

Piece of Cake Desserts - My daughters LEGO Cake!!

2013-01-30T10:48:00.001-08:00

Piece of Cake Desserts Is making my daughters LEGO Cake - can't wait!!

DIY - How to make LEGO Crayons

2013-01-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

How to make your own LEGO crayons:

This is how to make or DIY Lego Crayons for a birthday party. I made these ones for my daughters party for the gift bags. I bought the LEGO trays on Amazon.com for $4 - $8 and made candy and crayons. The crayons were old crayons we had collected from restaurants and broken ones around the house, so it didn't cost me anything in supplies.

Your little one can help you by peeling off the wrappers (or I use an exacto knife to make a cut the lenght of the crayon and then just pull off the wrapper in one move), they can help break up the crayons, pick the colors and place them in the molds/trays.

This silicon tray worked very well. I placed it on a broil pan with foil underneath to protect it from the heat. I preheated the over to 275 degrees and put the tray in the middle of the over for 8 - 10 mins. Use a timer so you don't forget!! When the crayons get too hot - they boil, singe and smell burned.

To cool the tray I placed it in the freezer for 20 mins. Then I let the tray get to room temperature before trying to pry out the crayons. The best way is to just completely pop out (inside out) the mold of each crayon then carefully pull out the knobs of the LEGO block. TIP: make sure the cooling surface is level or you will have slanted and uneven crayons. To even out any corners or imperfections, I simply just "colored" down the edges on some paper and it was proof that they worked :)

Have fun and enjoy!!

Here you can see the finished product!!